Persib Bandung produced a statement result on their AFC Champions League Two debut, stunning Korea Republic league leaders FC Seoul 1-0 in their Group E opener on Wednesday, backing up an early goal with a resolute defensive display to hold on for all three points.
The Indonesia Super League champions — who were the last side to confirm their spot in the group stage — silenced the vocal home crowd inside five minutes, and then produced a disciplined rearguard performance to see the result through, marking an emphatic start to continental life for coach Igor Tolic’s side.
The breakthrough came in the fifth minute, as Persib defender Julio Cesar side-footed home from an acute angle on the left, beating Kang Hyeon-mu at his near post following a Marc Klok corner to send the visiting supporters into raptures and stun the home faithful into silence.
From there, Persib took control of proceedings, dominating both possession and territory as FC Seoul struggled to find any rhythm. The hosts didn’t manage their first shot on goal until the 17th minute, when Lee Han-do blazed well over the bar from 35 yards, offering little concern for the Persib backline.
Persib continued to look the more threatening side as the half wore on, with Ragnar Oratmangoen dragging a drive from outside the box narrowly past the left post in the 28th minute as the Indonesian side searched for a second.
FC Seoul did start to find their footing as half-time approached; however, they tested goalkeeper Teja Paku Alam on a couple of occasions. The Persib custodian was called into action to punch clear a dangerous inswinging corner from Park Jang Han-yeol, before producing a fine save to push away a stinging effort from Jeong Hyeon-woo in the 34th minute. Persib were grateful again shortly after for midfielder Adam Alos, who cleared a Seoul striker’s header off the line to preserve his side’s slender advantage heading into the break.
FC Seoul came out for the second half with renewed urgency, and it took just three minutes for Leonardo Ruiz to test Teja Paku with a first-time effort, only for the Persib goalkeeper to parry the ball away. He was called upon again in the 62nd minute, this time denying consecutive headed attempts from Moon Seon-min and substitute Yazan Al Arab in quick succession to keep his side’s clean sheet intact.
At the other end, Persib almost put the game to bed four minutes later when captain Marc Klok intercepted a loose pass from Jung Ha-won just outside the box, only to drag his shot wide of the left post with just the goalkeeper to beat — a chance the Indonesian skipper will feel he should have done better with.
FC Seoul threw everything at the visitors in search of an equaliser in the closing stages, but Igor Tolic’s well-organised Persib side weathered the storm, holding firm all the way to the final whistle to secure a famous 1-0 win on their AFC Champions League Two debut and a perfect start to their Group E campaign.
Credit Photo : AFC
